MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has claimed the Russian federation led by National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev admires him for being the only president who stood up against and cursed a sitting president of the United States.

Duterte said the Russian officials gave him that impression during their meeting last Thursday in Davao City. Russian officials, including Ambassador Igor Khovaev, were in Davao recently to finalize the cooperation between the Philippines and Russia.

“And the Russians said that I’m the only one who said something about the president of America and the American policy itself,” Duterte told his mistahs during their class get-together at the Baguio Country Club last Friday.

Duterte has been an adopted member of Philippine Military Academy class of 1967 since he was mayor.

“Every time they (US) say something about their assistance, it seems that they are trying to make it appear that we will go hungry without it. So I really exploded. So that you will know what is in my heart,” he added.

Duterte insulted and cursed former US president Barack Obama after Obama criticized Duterte’s drug war, which is marked by summary killings and human right violations. He explained that he was offended when US officials dangled assistance after he opposed their statements on his drug war.

Duterte also threw profanities at the United Nations, European Union and human rights groups who criticized his bloody drug war.

Training exchange

Duterte also said that the result of his talk with Russian officials is an impending training exchange between Filipino and Russian soldiers and policemen.

“We discussed so many matters and they want to train our soldiers also and initially last night, I committed to send 10 Philippine National Police members and 10 members of the Armed Forces,” the President said.

“We have to connect not only (for) weapons but (for) the critical mass of information that we can share with them. We cannot afford to just wait for something out of this generosity,” he added.

Duterte moved to craft an independent foreign policy that allowed him to have bilateral relations with the country’s non-traditional allies such as Russia and China, despite China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea and a UN tribunal ruling favoring the Philippines territorial claims.

Duterte is happy about the turn of events with China despite the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

“And so in Davao City, it’s really a busy day for me ‘cause the Chinese are coming, business and all, and even the military,” he said.

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